Going Deep: Boys of Fall

by Cari Quinn

  Which was exactly the point.

  “You got it. Your mama said I was welcome to swim there anytime.” Drake cocked his head. “Got a problem with me bringing Paige there, son?”

  If Colt ground his teeth together any harder, he’d end up cracking a filling—and maybe a molar. “Nope, no problems here. You lucked out. My parents are away tonight, visiting family in San Antonio. So enjoy yourselves.”

  “Thanks. We will. Say hi to Coach.”

  Drake got a grunt in return.

  By the time he hit the steps, he was whistling. Tonight would be fun.

  * * *

  Perched on a barstool at one end of the bar at Pitchers, Paige figured she had the best vantage point in the place. She could see whenever anyone left. And when anyone arrived, not that she was looking for someone in particular. Or two someones, perhaps.

  That would be silly. It had been a whole week, and while she’d talked to Mr. Mond—Drake—a few times when he’d come in to pick up an order, there’d been no sight of Colt. Drake hadn’t even mentioned him. They’d spoken as easily as they always had, laughing over inane things, engaging in a little friendly debate about local politics.

  Anyone watching them probably would never have guessed they’d fucked like bunnies high on moonshine the weekend before.

  She giggled into her half-full beer. Now there was an image.

  “You need a refill yet?” Sadie asked.

  “No, I’m good for right now, thanks.” Paige glanced up at her friend and smiled.

  The statuesque auburn-haired bartender always made her feel a little wistful. Sadie had a fun sense of style—proven by the purple streak currently in her hair—and the kind of confidence Paige only wished she had. She’d been forcing herself to wear sexy dresses all week, and while she hadn’t choked, she still couldn’t quite face her reflection in the full-length mirror.

  But she was getting there, one incredible one-night stand with two sexy cowboys at a time.

  Pity there wouldn’t be any more, though she knew it was for the best.

  Sadie swished her rag over the bar and leaned closer. “Hey, can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure thing.”

  Her friend leaned closer. “Is it true?” At Paige’s blank look, Sadie lifted her brows. “You know, about you and Colt and Drake possibly being in a compromising position. Post-wedding shenanigans. That kind of deal.”

  Paige waited for horror to fill her, the same kind that had on Sunday morning when she’d realized their disappearing act had been noticed not only by Colt’s family and the bride and groom, but town busybody Mrs. Trent too. It never came. She didn’t know if the beer was donating some liquid courage or if she’d done some spine stiffening over the past week, but for some reason, she wasn’t freaking out.

  So what if Sadie knew? Hell, so what if the whole town knew? She was still worried about Charli and her reaction once she was back in town and they were back to work together, but she was the only one she was concerned about. Besides, talking to her best friend had helped alleviate some of her concerns on that score. She’d be damned if she slunk around and hid in corners when all she’d done was have some harmless fun.

  Of course, talking to Charli had reminded her of other concerns. Like the likelihood that Colt and Drake wouldn’t be up for another time or two, even if she was. Especially Colt, Quinn’s answer to a player if she’d ever seen one. And she had, a time or two. Drake at least had been known to have the occasional, rare relationship. Colt had been flying very free since his divorce.

  Not that she wanted to change that. Charli understanding—or trying to understand—one night was a far cry from her understanding an ongoing…thing. But they both knew that wasn’t going to happen. Colt simply wasn’t built that way. Charli had said he’d chafed at the bonds of their marriage the entire time he’d been in it, until he’d been unable to take another day.

  “Yoohoo, Paige, you in there?”

  Paige smiled. “Yeah. Sorry. Just trying to come up with a politically correct way to say that I—”

  “That you banged two sinfully sexy cowboys?” At Paige’s silence, Sadie grinned and dipped her head near Paige’s ear. “Just an FYI, I might know something about that too.”

  Paige shot back on her barstool, nearly flying off of it before she grabbed the edge of the bar and righted herself. “You’ve been with them?” she mumbled.

  She’d speculated they’d shared women before, from things they’d said and that easy rhythm between them. But them sharing women in Quinn, women she knew, was a far cry from them picking up some tourist and going to town for a weekend.

  “Hey there, you okay?” Sadie peered closer at her face. “You didn’t have a few before you got here, did you?”

  “No, no, of course not. I’m not drunk.” Just freaked-out. But she had to know, awkward or not. “Did you…” She took a deep breath. “Did you sleep with Colt and Drake too?”

  Sadie’s lips twitched. “Too? That sounds like an admission of guilt. To which I say, you go, girl.” She held her hand up for a high-five, making Paige grin in spite of herself.

  “To answer your other question…” Her friend propped her forearms on the bar and lowered her voice. “Hell no, I haven’t slept with them. Either of them, never mind both. Do you really think I’d be asking you about it if I had?”

  “I don’t know.” All of a sudden, everything seemed so hard. So freaking complicated. She finished off her beer, then snapped the glass on the bar. “Gimme another, please.”

  “You got it.” Sadie took her glass and went to refill it, returning with a twinkle in her eye and a mischievous smile. “I said I knew something about sleeping with two hot cowboys. Just not that particular two.”

  “Really?” Relief at the additional confirmation she really hadn’t been with Colt and Drake made Paige smile, probably a little goofily, as she sucked down more beer. “Is that like a…thing ’round here, and no one ever told me because I’m too new in town?”

  Sadie laughed long and loud. “Girl, you aren’t that new anymore. Besides, you’re practically from one of the founding families of Quinn. Your people have roots here that go back eons.”

  A sense of pride washed over Paige, and she sat up a little straighter. It was nice to know someone didn’t see her as just the new Yank in town. “That they do.”

  “And no, I don’t think it’s a thing. People in Quinn can be a bit conservative sometimes, though I think that overall, they’re pretty understanding and decent when it comes right down to it. They are just easily shocked by some of the goings-on is all.” Sadie smiled and flicked her ponytail back over her shoulder. “Like the things done by wild women such as you and me.”

  Paige blinked. “Having a threesome makes me a wild woman?” she whispered, really not wanting to be overheard.

  “Well, it sure doesn’t make you an old fuddy-duddy.”

  “Good point.” Paige took a sip of beer. While she wasn’t feeling it much yet, she probably should slow down. This was her last one. “So, um, who were yours?” She took a quick, surreptitious glance around the bar to make sure they weren’t being overheard. “Your cowboys, I mean.” At Sadie’s shifty look, she widened her eyes. “Not Joel and Oakley?”

  “What makes you mention them?”

  “Other than y’all been attached at the hip lately? I don’t know. I guess I’ve always seen sparks between you guys.” She flattened her hand on the bar and marveled that it wasn’t sticky. Sadie ran a tight ship. “Actually, more like flames. Forget sparks.”

  Sadie gave her a secretive smile. “Let’s just say one is great, but two is spectacular.”

  Paige sighed and went back to her beer. “You’re telling me.”

  “I am telling you, because it’s nice to have someone to talk to. We’re kind of a rare breed ’round here. I mean, I’m sure a few others have had affairs with more than one guy, but no one will admit to them. At least Lorelie, AJ or Char—” She broke off and cocked her head.
“Well, now, that’s rather awkward.”

  “Yeah. Part of why I’m destined to only have that one night in my fantasies.”

  “You don’t want to hurt Charlene.”

  “No. I’d rather cut off my toes than do that.” Remembering the sparkly purple polish she’d put on them just last night, she wiggled her toes in her sandals and grinned. “Actually, I’d rather lose a couple fingers. My toes look great right now.”

  Sadie laughed. “I gotta say, it’s hard to figure Char being that hurt, considering she’s newly married and all. Those two have been making moon eyes at each other since high school.”

  “I wouldn’t know,” Paige said softly. Yet again, her late arrival to this town made her feel as if she’d missed out.

  “Take my word for it. Char and Wade were meant for each other. Added to that, she’s a pretty reasonable lady, all in all. I can’t see her begrudging you some happiness if you found it.”

  “No, she wouldn’t, but she reminded me of the score last week.”

  Sadie held up a finger as another customer summoned her at the other end of the bar. “One minute there, Teddy.” She turned back to Paige. “What score is that?”

  Paige wiped up the condensation left by her beer on the bar with her finger. “The one that says Colt and Drake are the love-’em-and-leave-’em types.”

  “Well, honey, I can’t say if that’s so or not. Drake has had a few relationships since he’s been in town that I know of, and they weren’t real short. A couple of women, and there was that one guy, Robbie, I think was his name—”

  “Wait.” Paige gulped down more of her beer to wet her suddenly dry throat. “He was in a relationship with a guy?”

  “Yeah, rumor has it. Was some years back.”

  “Sadie, I’m dying over here,” Teddy called, his impatience clear in his voice.

  “I’m coming.” Sadie winked at Paige. “Be right back.”

  Paige stared blindly at the bottles of alcohol on the wall, glinting from the overhead lights. Pool balls clinked from the table in back and she barely heard them.

  She thought she’d picked up some kind of vibes between Drake and Colt in bed, pinging more from Drake’s side, but had dismissed them. They’d shared women before, so that brought a closeness to them that maybe some other men wouldn’t have. But did Drake have some kind of feelings toward Colt, or were they strictly about the woman when they shared?

  For a moment, she debated asking Drake the next time she saw him. Unfortunately, she was pretty sure there wasn’t enough beer in Texas to make her bold enough for that.

  She’d just have to pay attention the next time she was around the two guys…and see what she saw.

  “Sorry about that.” Sadie headed back up the bar to her after filling another beer or two for her appreciative patrons. “Can’t keep a thirsty man—or woman—waiting long.”

  “True enough.”

  “So as I was saying, let’s say they are love-’em-and-leave-’em types, as you said. You’re not looking for more than that, are you?”

  Paige gazed into her beer, willing it to offer up some of the answers she sorely needed.

  She wasn’t, was she? That night, she’d been certain that she wasn’t in the market for more than a one-nighter, and even that had been a surprise. She’d just been looking for a good time. But as the days after stretched long and lonely, she realized she missed them. How she could after just one night, she didn’t know, but truth was, they’d become a part of her life when she wasn’t looking. Coming into the store to chat, calling up orders and talking about nothing, even teasing each other over silly stuff—she loved sharing those things with them, minor as they were. And though Drake had still been around this week, Colt’s absence had stung.

  She wanted to feel the way they’d made her feel the night of the wedding one more time. Was that so wrong?

  “No,” she said quietly, gripping the handle of her mug. “But I’m not sure one night is enough either. Is there a middle point between a full-blown relationship and a hookup?”

  “Sure there is. That’s where I am right now.” Sadie grinned and propped her head on her palm. “Not all of us want to settle down and get married with a houseful of kids. For some of us, it’s just not what we’re made for.”

  “You’re not?”

  Sadie slowly shook her head. “No. I have enough issues as is. I don’t need to inflict them on some offspring of mine, or set up house with a husband when I know he’ll only end up disappointed down the line.”

  Paige couldn’t resist teasing her. “Just one husband? Maybe that’s your problem right there.”

  But Sadie didn’t smile. “Nah. It’s not a problem. It’s a philosophy. And it’s practical.”

  Nodding, Paige circled her mug on the bar. “I think I’m growing allergic to becoming practical. All I’ve ever focused on was business, business, business. I wanted to grow the store and make my granddaddy proud.”

  “How’s that working for you?”

  “As far as the store goes, incredible. Profits are up, customers are happy, word is spreading. Charli and I have talked about expanding and it’s a real possibility if things keep up as they are. But personally…” She sighed and ducked her head. “I’m not going to say how long it was since I last did the deed before last weekend. Let’s just say our president was in his first term in office.”

  “Oh. Ouch.” Sadie winced in sympathy. “No wonder you went big when you finally went.”

  “Big? Try huge.” Catching Sadie’s smirk, Paige realized how that sounded and giggled into her beer. “Jeez, pervert, that’s not what I meant. Though if we’re dishing, they are both really well-endowed—”

  Sadie’s eyes widened and she made a slashing gesture with her hand.

  Too late, Paige pivoted on her stool to see Drake grinning at her as he tucked his thumbs in his belt loops and rocked back on his heels.

  Heat scorched her cheeks—and everywhere else, including between her thighs. Suddenly her bikini panties seemed as substantial as air. “Oh. Um. Hi.”

  “Hi yourself.” He inclined his chin at the stool beside her. “This seat taken?”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “By you.”

  Sadie gave her a completely non-discreet wink and shifted toward Drake. “What’s your poison?”

  “PBR’s fine. Thanks, Sadie.”

  “Pleasure’s all mine.” Sadie moved away to fill his mug, then set it in front of him. “Let me know if you need anything else. Like, say, another huge drink.”

  Paige covered her face with her hands and laughed. “God. Can the floor just swallow me up?”

  “No. But you can spend the night with me.” Drake’s rich, warm voice drew a shiver from her. “How’s that sound?”

  She dropped her hands and glanced at him, her breath catching at the intensity in his dark-blue eyes. Though his grin was still in place, it looked forced. Was he worried she’d say no? Or worried for another reason?

  Swallowing hard, she toyed with the handle of her mug. “What about Colt?” she asked quietly.

  “He’s got other plans.” He shrugged, but she could tell he wasn’t unaffected.

  Had they argued about him coming to see her, solo? Or had Colt wanted it that way? She had so many questions, her head was bursting with them.

  “Does he know you were going to ask me out?”

  His lips twitched as he leaned closer to speak next to her ear. “Why, sweetheart, we can certainly go out if you’d like, but I was more asking you to stay in.”

  Holy shit. She was going to spontaneously combust if he kept it up. Hell, just sitting next to him with the heat from his legs radiating into her thighs through her sundress was enough to make her implode.

  She shut her eyes. “In sounds good to me,” she said breathlessly.

  “In sounds real good to me too.” Apparently oblivious to the rest of the patrons in the bar—or maybe not caring either way—he reached out to close his broad, calloused hand over hers where
it rested on the bar. “I was thinking we could go down to the Gulch. How’s that sound to you?”

  Her gaze flew to his. “The Gulch? Colt’s Gulch?”

  Now he smiled, big and wide. “One and the same.”

  “And he’s not there?”

  Drake shook his head. “Not yet. But I have a feeling he’ll show up.”

  She couldn’t help laughing. “Why, you son of a gun. You’re trying to tempt him into showing up by pissing him off.”

  He laughed and took a long drink. “Something like that,” he admitted.

  “You really think that’s going to work? If he said he has plans, maybe he really doesn’t care what we do.”

  And oh, that hurt. She could try to deny it forever, but the clench in her belly told the tale. She’d missed Drake and she’d missed Colt, and being with one and not the other might be nice but it didn’t feel quite…right.

  God, talk about greedy. Most women settled for one man, didn’t they? They didn’t take lovers in pairs.

  “Oh, he cares,” Drake said, drinking again. “You can count on that. So the question is, are you game to head on over there after we’re done here?”

  “Won’t the Bennetts mind?”

  “Nah. They’re fine with me swimming there anytime I’d like. Besides, Colt knows.” He licked up a drop of beer from the corner of his mouth. “I reckon he’s steaming over my brass balls at asking to use his family’s swimming hole right now.”

  That made her think of what she’d wondered earlier. Did Drake have feelings for Colt? Yet another question. If she didn’t start getting some answers soon, she was going to explode.

  Hopefully she’d also explode in other ways tonight.

  “If you’re sure it’s okay,” she said, shocked she was agreeing so easily. Amazing sex must’ve warped her brain.

  Flashing a grin, he squeezed her hand on the bar. “Oh, it’ll be more than okay. Trust me.”

  6

  Colt grumbled all the way to Coach’s. Even the music blasting loud in his truck couldn’t soothe his bad mood. And the worst of it was that he’d caused the whole damn situation himself.